The most valuable buildings belonged to Union men, and the upper part of the town, built chiefly of resinous pine, was combustible to the last degree.

In case of fire, if the wind blew towards the river, we might lose steamers and all.

I remember regulating my degree of disrobing by the direction of the wind; if it blew from the river, it was safe to make one's self quite comfortable; if otherwise, it was best to conform to Suwarrow's idea of luxury, and take off one spur.
So passed our busy life for ten days.

There were no tidings of reinforcements, and I hardly knew whether I wished for them,--or rather, I desired them as a choice of evils; for our men were giving out from overwork, and the recruiting excursions, for which we had mainly come, were hardly possible.

At the utmost, I had asked for the addition of four companies and a light battery.